Why Can’t You Just Stick to the Plan?

Much emphasis has been given to the importance of sticking to the plan in order to become profitable in the long run. Coming up with a trade plan is the easy part, sticking to it is easier said than done. Here are some reasons why most traders find it difficult to stick to their trading plan. Are you guilty of any of these?

1. Panic

The first, and probably most common, reason why traders fail to follow their trading plan is due to sheer panic. Yes, there are times when a trade goes picture perfect and you capture the full move, down to the last pip. However, more often than not, trades don’t go as smoothly as you would hope.

When the unexpected happens, some traders get nervous and surprised. This can cause traders to lose focus and act on impulse and do something that isn’t part of the trading plan.

To avoid acting on impulse, a trader should account for ALL potential scenarios before entering a trade. You should have a plan of action for any scenario. This way, nothing will be unexpected and you will know how to react and not panic.

2. Winning or Losing Streaks

Another instance where traders deviate from the trading plan can occur due to losing or winning streaks. The lack or surplus of confidence can cause a trader to view a trade setup without bias. If you were experiencing an extended losing streak, you may pass out on several good trading opportunities. Conversely, if you had just put together a string of nice wins, you might feel confident and invincible, causing you to take trades that are not valid under the trading plan.

Keeping a psychological journal can help you manage your emotions. Remind yourself that your plan is based on preset rules. Remind yourself of the risks involved whenever you deviate from this plan.

3. Lack of Trust in the Plan

Another issue that some traders suffer from is the lack of trust or belief in the trading plan. There is nothing binding you to follow the plan and there are times where you feel that the trade won’t “work” if you stick to the plan. As a result, you take trades on gut feeling, only taking certain setups and not taking ones that don’t “feel right”. For you, following your trading plan is merely an option.

In the long run though, this defeats the whole purpose of having a trading plan, which is supposed to give you an edge. Without an edge, your trading account gains will be marginal at best or worse, in the red.

One way to fix this problem is keep a detailed trade journal and track down your statistics. It is hard to argue with cold, hard statistics. Once you see that your trading plan does work and is yielding positive results, it could give you more motivation to stick to the plan and follow through.

4. Plan and Personality Mismatch

Lastly, there may be times where you feel forced into taking trades because your trading plan dictates so. Or, on other side of the spectrum, you aren’t taking as many trades as you due to lifestyle considerations and other obligations.

This can lead to inconsistent trading, as you are only sometimes following the rules. This inconsistency can and will hurt your bottom line.

At the end of the day, you have to consider whether or not your trading plan is for you. By this, I am asking you to ask yourself, “Does my trading plan match my trading style?
You might be using a mean reverting system but you actually like following the trend. Or you may be insisting on taking day trades, even though your other commitments suggest you should be a swing trader.

You have to know your own trading personality and match your trading personality to that. Once you determine your trading personality and your trading style, you will take one step closer towards being a consistently profitable trader.

In a nutshell, following your trade plan at all times requires more than just discipline. You have to make sure that it’s the right fit for you, that it takes all possible scenarios into account, and that you have the numbers to back it up. When all those criteria are met, it will be easier for you to trust your trade plan and stick to it.

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About Dr. Pipslow

If you can't keep your emotions in check when trading, you will lose money. Lots of it. The most significant action that you can do to improve trading profits is to work on yourself. Really knowing yourself and how you think can give you an edge that others in the market don't have. My goal is to share practical advice to improve your forex psychology without boring you to death. Hopefully, you can develop the mental edge you need to become the best trader you can be.

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